DOJ’s ballroom case briefs sound like Trump wrote them

The government’s latest filing in the lawsuit over President Trump’s ballroom project sounds like it was written by the top man himself.

With exclamation points, quotation marks and odd capitalization — all hallmarks of Mr. Trump’s writing style — the brief complained that the president’s opponents are tainted by TDS, or Trump Derangement Syndrome, and used the full name of former President Barack Hussein Obama.

It recounted the multiple assassination attempts against Mr. Trump as reasons he should be allowed to proceed with constructing the ballroom.

“If any other President had the ability, foresight, or talents necessary, to build this ballroom, which will be one of the greatest, safest, and most secure structures of its kind anywhere in the World, there would never have been a lawsuit. But, because it is DONALD J. TRUMP, a highly successful real estate developer, who has abilities that others don’t, especially those who assume the Office of President, this frivolous and meritless lawsuit was filed,” the brief said.

It also attacked the National Trust for Historic Preservation for even bringing the lawsuit to block construction, calling it a “FAKE” name because Congress stripped it of federal money.

“They are very bad for our Country. They stop many projects that are worthy, and hurt many others. In this case, they are trying to stop one that is vital to our National Security, and the Safety of all Presidents of the United States, both current and future, their families, staff, and Cabinet members,” the brief argued.

The White House didn’t reveal whether Mr. Trump was the author, but made clear the brief was capturing his zeal.

“President Trump is intimately involved in the ongoing disgraceful lawsuit brought by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and is working diligently with his team of lawyers to bring this charade to an end,” said Davis Ingle, a White House spokesman.

Mr. Trump had the White House’s East Wing demolished last year as he moved ahead with plans for a grand ballroom.

That drew the lawsuit, which argued the president hadn’t gotten approval from a number of planning boards or Congress before making major changes to the historic White House complex.

A federal district judge let underground construction proceed, citing safety and security issues, but last month, he put a stop to it, saying Mr. Trump did need Congress’ OK.

A federal appeals court stepped in and demanded a do-over, and U.S. District Judge Richard Leon returned earlier this month with a new order again halting most above-ground work.

The latest attack on the president and his entourage at Saturday’s White House Correspondents’ Dinner has raised the stakes, with Mr. Trump saying that if the White House had hosted the event at a ballroom inside its own perimeter, the security situation would have been better.

Tuesday’s legal brief raises those same issues.

“Saturday’s narrow miss — which marks the third assassination attempt on President Trump since 2024 — confirms what should have already been obvious: Presidents need a secure space for large events, that currently does not exist in Washington, D.C., and this Court’s injunction stalling this Project cannot defensibly continue, for the sake of the safety of President Trump, future Presidents, and their families, Cabinets, and staff,” the government argued.

The brief was signed by Stanley E. Woodward Jr., an associate attorney general. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and Associate Deputy Attorney General Trent McCotter are also listed on the brief.

Mr. Trump is not a signatory, though he is one of the named defendants.